PHOENIX — The quarterback has been MVP of the Super Bowl 26 times. Only nine times have defensive players won MVP honors. Only six wide receivers have won the award — but three since 2004. Only seven running backs have stolen The Show. So any conversation about the likely heroes of Super Sunday begins with Tom Brady and Russell Wilson.

But who else? No one could have possibly envisioned Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith as MVP of Super Bowl XLVIII. Or Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien at Super Bowl XXVI MVP. Larry Brown was the star of Super Bowl XXX with two interceptions of Neil O’Donnell.

I have picked six who I believe are the best bets to determine the Patriots-Seahawks winner:

Tom Brady

Tom BradyGetty Images

“You could put him in the category of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, just some of the great athletes in this world,” Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis said. “He has the fight, the will and the determination to go out there and destroy anybody who’s in his way.”

It’s the same old song the Super Bowl XLII and XLVI Giants sang — get in his face and make him uncomfortable and frustrate him into uncharacteristic bad decisions.

“We always talk about affecting the quarterback,” Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said. “The big thing for us is just make them feel the pressure.”

Brady is a two-time MVP and is as accurate and driven as ever to win that elusive fourth ring. No cold or fatigue will slow him down.

Russell Wilson

Russell WilsonAP

“He’s versatile in the fact that he can take off out of the pocket, and still look downfield and make plays with his arm,” Seattle wide receiver Doug Baldwin said. “But then when he does scramble, and then he takes off with the ball past the line of scrimmage, he can make guys miss, and he’s very effective when he does so. He’s capable of doing so much, and that’s what makes him special, he’s just not a prototypical pocket passer. He’s a guy that you have to account for not only in the passing game, but also with his legs.”

Marshawn Lynch

Marshawn LynchAP

He’s all about the action, Boss. Bill Belichick will be obsessed with taking him away, but they’ll feed the Beast, 20 times minimum, because he is The Straw That Stirs The Drink.

“He has the ability to run guys over, but he also has the ability to make them miss with different moves that he has,” Baldwin said. “He’s also an underrated pass-catcher out of the backfield.”

Don’t even bother trying to arm tackle the guy.

“You really have to get every hat to the ball and body tackle that guy,” Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich said.

Rob Gronkowski

Rob GronkowskiGetty Images

The Giants were fortunate Gronk (ankle) was hobbled in Super Bowl XLVI. His wars with Kam Chancellor, and possibly Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, will be critical.

“For the most part what I’ve seen, guys that are on him have more success than versus off,” Wright said.

It’s nice having a 6-foot-7 target such as this in the red zone. Don’t expect any potential tone-setting early hit from Chancellor to intimidate Gronk.

“People sometimes I feel like just look at me like I just go out 24/7,” Gronkowski said.

Get ready for the Gronk Spike.

“I just wish the game was today,” he said earlier this week.

Richard Sherman

Richard ShermanGetty Images

Brady won’t be fearful of throwing at him. Sherman’s pregnant girlfriend is due with a boy any day now, but his teammates fully expect him to be on the field with them no matter when his son arrives.

“If Richard Sherman’s son is born on Sunday, I’ll be so happy for him, and I know he’ll have a great game,” Wilson said, and chuckled as he added: “I know if I’m Tom, I’m not throwing his way, I’m sure he’s gonna try to make some extra plays for him.”

Baldwin characterizes the difference between Revis and Sherman this way: “Revis is one of those guys who can put himself in the perfect position to shut down a guy, where Sherm doesn’t necessarily always have to do that. He’s so long, he’s a lengthy, tall corner, so he can be out of position sometimes and make the quarterback think he’s out of position, and then reach his long arm up there and knock the ball down like he did in the NFC Championship Game last year.”

Julian Edelman

Julian EdelmanEPA

A true gamer who can impact the game returning punts as well as taking short bubble screens for yards after the catch … and even throw a touchdown pass. He’s taken on the Wes Welker role.

“I was fortunate to get to play behind him and learn how he played the position,” Edelman said.